Fun Tales & Experiences
All Content © 2025 Arthur Shapiro. All Rights Reserved. No Reproductions Without Express Written Consent By Arthur Shapiro
A Victim of His Success By Arthur Shapiro
He was a rising star. Although he joined the company mid-career, he accomplished what most of his "lifer" colleagues had not.
Harvey joined the company at age 40 as vice president for marketing research. Most of those who reported to him and others at a management level were hired right out of school, stayed, and had been with the company for 20 years or more by the time they reached their forties. So, perhaps it was the inbreeding, the lack of experience with other jobs and companies, or even the staleness accompanying long tenure—whatever, he stood out and was on a fast track.
Aruba By Arthur Shapiro
Many years ago—no, make that decades ago—we went on vacation to Aruba. Since Venezuela was nearby, we decided to visit Caracas for a few days first. This was well before the country's turmoil.
It was a lovely city with interesting sites and good restaurants. After a few days, we decided to go to the countryside. We discovered a tram that would take us down a mountain to the beach, so off we went.
Atlantic City By Arthur Shapiro
Jeff Borow was quite a character. I was convinced that in a previous life, he was an outlaw, maybe a grifter or even a thief. But we became good friends, and there was never a dull moment when you were with Jeff. His stunts, his cockiness, and his constant attempts to outwit people (often successfully) made him fun to be with. It was never a dull moment when Jeff was around, especially when you’re nineteen.
We met when we both were waiters at hotels and restaurants in Atlantic City. We remained friends long after those days.
Consider the Bagel By Arthur Shapiro
Ah, that wonderful and uniquely Jewish item that the world has come to love deserves a moment of your time. Let’s take a close look.
Bagels have a rich history that dates to Jewish communities in Poland in the 17th century. They were traditionally made by boiling the dough before baking, which gives them their distinctive chewy interior and shiny crust. The word "bagel" is derived from the Yiddish word "beygl," which itself came from the German word "böugel," meaning "ring" or "bracelet."
Happy Hour in a Stone Cave by Arthur Shapiro
Hagbah and Gelilah were partners. They lived in a two-story walkup cave somewhere in Asia- Pacific. Hagbah was a terrific hunter and the alpha male in the area. Gelilah was a ravishing beauty and the foremost gatherer in the valley. They did okay. Not rich but comfortable.
The start of their relationship was rocky, especially when Hagbah broke into her parent’s cave, hit her over the head, and dragged her off. Her parents, recognizing this act of endearment, were proud that the prominent Hagbah selected her. When she came to, Gelilah was pissed. With an enormous bump on her head and a splitting headache, she grabbed Hagbah by the nether region and said, “Hit me one more time, jackass, and I’ll feed what’s left of you to the T- Rex up the road.” Their relationship improved appreciably after that.
If You Could Travel Back in Time
By Arthur Shapiro
I thought it was a joke. My childhood best friend called me to say he had developed a time machine. I laughed, thinking it was a joke. In an angry voice, he told me he had used it more than once and witnessed the burning at the stake of Joan of Arc and Lee’s surrender to Grant.
I scoffed. He grew angrier and challenged me to enter the machine and return in time.
Lauren Bacall By Arthur Shapiro
Have you ever heard the term “Cause-Related Marketing?” It started when American Express coined the phrase in 1983 during its campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty.
Cause-related marketing (CRM) is a strategy that combines product sales or promotion with support for charitable or social causes. This strategy benefits both the company and the chosen cause. Celebrities play a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of CRM campaigns.
Looking for the Muse By Arthur Shapiro
Tanya Bernard had a severe case of writer’s block, the worst ever. It had happened to her many times before, but not this bad. Nothing she used in the past to get over the hurdle was working.
She tried meditating, going to the gym, taking long walks, getting stoned, and just silently staring into space for hours. She even tried lighting a candle a friend gave her, called a “candle for writer’s block.” It didn’t work, and since she had lit it while smoking a doobie and drinking wine, she nearly set the apartment on fire. “Damn,” she thought at the time, “those smoke detectors make a hell of a lot of noise,” just before she blew out the candle and passed out.
My Friend Joey By Arthur Shapiro
“My face hurt from grinning, and all the muscles in my stomach were sore. I hadn’t laughed that much in a long time. The only one who could make me laugh like that was Joey Levine, my best friend since the sixth grade.
Joey is quite a character. In Junior High, he pulled all kinds of pranks on the teachers and the other kids, especially the stuck-up ones.
My Worst Fear Comes to Fruition By Arthur Shapiro
It was a terrific trip. I flew into LA on Monday, had very productive meetings, spent time arguing with the sales team, and got some good folks promoted. All in all, it was among the best trips ever to the coast. Usually, when someone from the NY headquarters went to a regional office, the bullshit flowed, you got the “tunnel of love tour” and loads of bad vibes.
Not this time. Except for the one jerk, it was a “kumbaya” meeting with everyone on the same page.
The Changing Shrink By Arthur Shapiro
A feeling of calm spread over my whole body. This place has always had that effect. I settled in, but something was different.
As I waited for my appointment with my therapist, I noticed the waiting room had changed. The peaceful paintings and photographs were gone. Abstract art was in their place. Abstract? It looked like someone had been sick on the walls. The sedate and comfortable furnishings had given way to load, obnoxious décor.
The Criminals By Arthur Shapiro
The journey to this altar, in this church, on this perfect day, began years ago. As I stood there, face to face with the love of my life, I remembered everything it took to get here, everything we went through together and apart.
Little did I know what was in store for us.
The Lottery Winner By Arthur Shapiro
I grew up with nothing. If it’s possible to have less than nothing, that was what we had. So, when the numbers were read on the TV, the same numbers on the only ticket I ever bought, my brain went completely blank. First, I thought of my husband and his awful joke about winning the lottery. It was... A man comes home one day and says to his wife, I won the lottery, start packing. She says that’s wonderful. Should I take winter or summer clothes? His reply — take them all, you’re out of here.
That bastard. After 30 years, that’s what he thought of me. A joke, you say. Well, my mother — whom he hated and treated badly — used to say, “In every joke, there is a grain of truth,”
The Selfie By Arthur Shapiro
On the 4th day of the 10-day selfie challenge, I wished I’d never bought a smartphone. The photo of me was innocent enough, but what I accidentally captured in the background opened up a whole world of trouble.
I had been walking through Sunnyland Gardens, which I usually do at least once a week. I enjoy sitting on a bench, thinking about things, reading, and occasionally meditating. Sometimes, I stop at the café for a cup of coffee, but what I enjoy most is strolling around the gardens.
The Shoplifter By Arthur Shapiro
Dan and Donna Ryan, each in their early 30s, often went shopping together. Dan had a thing for Duane Reade, which Donna couldn’t understand. “Why Duane Reade or CVS all the time? D’Agostino’s or Shoprite has what we need; why do we always go to the drugstore chains?”
Dan was usually noncommittal, muttering something about a better selection of stuff or that he just liked those stores more. Their marriage had become rocky, and Donna didn’t need another fight with him, so she usually just went along.
The Surprise Guest By Arthur Shapiro
No one believes me, and why should they? I’m not sure I believe it myself.
I live in the desert, and strange things have been known to happen from time to time. No, I’m not talking about the people, but nature. Listen to my story, and you can decide whether I’m nuts.
The Werewolf By Arthur Shapiro
There are no support groups for people like me. First, there would
have to be at least one other person like me, and I'm sure there
isn't. I've never been able to tell another soul... I am a werewolf. That’s right, I shape- shift into a wolf once a month during a full moon. It’s an affliction called lycanthropy, transformation into a wolf.
It all started on a camping trip with some friends. We heard wolf howls, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ground fighting off the alpha male wolf. He must have scratched me or something, but since I had fought him off, I didn’t give it further thought.
What's in a Name By Arthur Shapiro
I’m famous for something I didn’t do. I keep thinking the excitement will die down and the attention will fade, but...... I’m beginning to like it.
It all started with the OJ Simpson trial and the other Shapiro, Robert. You know, of course, he is a famous lawyer who defended many athletes and had celebrities as his clients.
The Birthday Present
By Arthur Shapiro
When I was at the Seagram Spirits and Wine Company, many of the offices, including mine, had photographs from the company’s museum-quality photo collection. They were terrific pictures, all in B&W from the original photos. You would get one, and then sometime later, the Curator and her crew would come by, take the current one away, and replace it with another.
This photo was the last one I received. I loved it. It spoke to me. I'm not sure why. Perhaps the old man reminded me of my grandfather or some distant relative. I also loved the story behind it. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and looking at it.
